Basic Review AP Government & Politics

Constitutional Underpinnings Four Basic Principles Four Basic Principles Bicameralism Bicameralism State to State Relations State to State Relations Amending Process Amending Process Supremacy Clause Supremacy Clause

Legislative Branch Organizational Structure Organizational Structure Political Parties & Leadership Political Parties & Leadership Committee Systems Committee Systems Basic Responsibilities of the House Basic Responsibilities of the House Basic Responsibilities of the Senate Basic Responsibilities of the Senate

Main Points House – 2 years House – 2 years Reapportionment Reapportionment Redistricting Redistricting Constituency Constituency Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Exclusive Committees Exclusive Committees Impeachment Impeachment Midterms Elections Midterms Elections Domestic Focus Domestic Focus Senate – 6 years Senate – 6 years Equal Representation Broader constituency Majority Leader Tries Impeachment Advice & Consent Midterm Elections Foreign Policy

Congress “…enumerated, implied, and commerce powers…” “…enumerated, implied, and commerce powers…” All laws must pass both houses All laws must pass both houses Power to override veto Power to override veto Must pass a budget each year Must pass a budget each year Propose Constitutional Amendments Propose Constitutional Amendments “…elections are the best term limits…” “…elections are the best term limits…”

The President Formal Powers Formal Powers Commander-in-chief Commander-in-chief Executes the Law Executes the Law Veto Power Veto Power Appointment Power Appointment Power Pardoning Power Pardoning Power Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Policy Initiator Policy Initiator State of the Union State of the Union Informal Power Informal Power Head of Party Head of State Inherent Powers Executive Privilege

Constitutional Amendments Twelfth Amendment - Two Ballots Twelfth Amendment - Two Ballots Twentieth Amendment – Lame Duck Twentieth Amendment – Lame Duck Twenty-second – term limits – 10 years Twenty-second – term limits – 10 years Twenty-third Amendment – Three from DC Twenty-third Amendment – Three from DC Twenty-fifth Amendment - Succession Twenty-fifth Amendment - Succession

Election of the President Caucuses and Primaries – Delegates National Convention – Nomination National Convention – Running Mate National Convention – Party Platform Campaign General Election Electoral College

Number of Senators & Representatives Three from “D.C.” States control selection of electors Each party has own slate of electors Voters vote for electors Electors vote for the President Based on Popular vote – winner-take-all

Electoral College - continued Electors vote in December Votes counted in January Candidate must have 270 votes In a tie – House elects President In a tie – Senate elects Vice-president

Executive Branch The Cabinet Independent Agencies – Executive – “cabinet like” – Regulatory – “protects consumers” – Corporations – “Post Office and TVA Nominated by President Confirmed by the Senate Implementation of Policy

Vice-President No Constitutional “executive” powers First in Line for Presidency Twenty-fifth Amendment Balance the Ticket Can be a “Dead End” Job Power delegated by the President

Executive Office Office of the Vice-President Office of the First Lady Office of Management & Budget National Security Council National Security Agency Council of Economic Advisors White House Staff

Judicial Branch “…the least dangerous branch…” One supreme Court Congressional/legislative courts Judiciary Act 1789 No qualifications for judges Appointment for life – “politically insulated” Original & Appellate Jurisdiction Impeachment & conviction

Judicial System District Trial Courts Courts of Appeals State Court of Last Resort Control of Docket – Solicitor General Writ of Certiorari Rule of Four Oral Arguments & Opinions

Judicial Power and National Power “…basic Landmark Decisions…” Judicial Review – Marbury v. Madison Implied Powers – McCulloch v. Maryland Commerce Power – Gibbons v. Odgen

Federalism “implied not explicit” Division of Power State Powers & National Powers “areas of responsibility” Reserved powers vs. Implied Powers Dual or Traditional – “layer-cake” Cooperative – “marble-cake”

Fiscal Federalism New Deal & Cooperative Federalism Great Society & Creative Federalism Conservative View – New Federalism Devolution State Budgets Dollars v. Control

A Few Simple Points  Certain theories can be applied throughout the Course. These theories along with understanding of basic concepts are extremely important…

Concepts & Theories  Demographics  Political Socialization  Socio-Economic Status  Mandatory v. Discretionary Spending  Platforms to Policy  Policy, Agencies and Budgeting

Demographics  Categorizing the Population  Just a Few Gender Age Race Region Religion

Political Socialization Values to Principles to Participation  Creating a “philosophical” basis  Just a Few: Family Education Peers Demographic Characteristics

Socio-Economic Status (SES) “…where you fit on the table…”  Education (most important)  Income  Demographic characteristics  “higher” on the table…more participation  “lower” on the table…less participation

Mandatory vs. Discretionary  Entitlements – must be paid by law to individuals meeting eligibility  More Mandatory – less Discretionary  “….who gets what…who gets cut…”

Platforms to Policy  Constituency Service  Must make promises to get elected…  Once elected must create policy  Policy is basis of elections  District Policy  State Policy  National Policy

Policy and Budgeting  If policy is passed….what is the cost?  “…where is the funding…”?  If new policy….need a new agency  If a new agency…  “,,,where is the funding…?  No funding, no policy…  Cut programs….raise taxes

Linkage Mechanisms “…where you find the politics…” “…linking demands to the decision makers….Interest groups, political parties, campaigns, elections, and the media…”

Interest Groups Specific Focus Disturbance Theory Educate and Influence Support Candidates Fund Candidates Lobby Scrutiny

Political Parties Broad Focus Select and Run Candidates Create Philosophical attachment Gain control of Government Organizes Congress

Campaigns – Pulls Concepts Together Political Parties – focus of campaign Interest Groups – supports campaign Media – information source Funding – “the life blood” Elections – the “end result”

Elections Politics is a game….”you are either on offense…or you are on defense…” Elections tells who won the game…

The Media… “….all you know about politics is what you see, hear, or read….” “…who does it, when did they do it, and how does the public perceive it…? “…socialization filters the media….”

Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, is a perfect way to understand policy demand, creation, and implementation. Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, is a perfect way to understand policy demand, creation, and implementation.

Civil Liberties – The Bill of Rights Freedoms of …..freedoms from… Freedoms of …..freedoms from… Protection against National Government Protection against National Government Protection of ideas and expression Protection of ideas and expression Protection from arbitrary police action Protection from arbitrary police action

Important Concepts First Amendment Establishment Clause Establishment Clause Free Exercise Clause Free Exercise Clause Clear and Present Danger Clear and Present Danger Fighting Words Fighting Words Freedom of Association Freedom of Association

Important Concepts Due Process Amendments Exclusionary Rule Exclusionary Rule Miranda Rights Miranda Rights Right to Attorney Right to Attorney Right to Witnesses Right to Witnesses Trial by Jury – criminal & civil Trial by Jury – criminal & civil No torture No torture

Civil Rights – “… the right to enjoy your liberties…” The Fourteenth Amendment The Fourteenth Amendment “…no state shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities….nor deny due process of law…nor deny equal protection of the law…” “…no state shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities….nor deny due process of law…nor deny equal protection of the law…” The Incorporation Doctrine The Incorporation Doctrine

Important Concepts Separate but equal Separate but equal Affirmative Action Affirmative Action De Jure De Jure De facto De facto Race and Gender Race and Gender Suspect Classification & Strict Scrutiny Suspect Classification & Strict Scrutiny

Final Thoughts “…by no means is this an exhaustive study guide, this is a starting point…a Basic Review…add your notes, activities, readings, etc….”